The Hymn to Freedom by Dionysios Solomos was by no means a random occurrence in our reborn poetry and in the history of free modern Greek life. It was written during the hours when the Revolution of 1821 was unfolding, when the smoke from the battles mixed with the first manifestations of a new poetic creation, to resurrect our divine and blood-soaked Homeland as free once again.

The poet had already wholeheartedly embraced the concept and form of Freedom and composed in May 1823 the most enduring conscious duty of the Greek people to live free henceforth. From then until today, this timeless work continuously affirms our free national existence as a modern Public Symbol.

By the end of the 20th century, the Hymn was the most translated modern Greek poem. The other part that forms this edition into a cohesive organic whole is the Prolegomena by Iakovos Polylas, the thinker and writer who “like a bee harvested the poetic essence of Solomos,” according to Lorenzo Mavili.

It constitutes the most substantial study and testimony from the man who was a close friend of Solomos and a firsthand witness of his life and work.